Humidifier



June 3, 1941. c. MAXWELL HUMIDIFIER Filed March 2, 1940 Patented June 3, 1941 'irs azen

HUl'tmWIER Clyde Maxwell, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assigner of onehalf to Hans J. Zack, Chicago, Ill.

claims.

This invention relates to improvements in humidiers, especially adapted for use with space heating radiators and it consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient structure adapted to be substituted for and to function, in part, as a riser pipe for a space heating radiator or in conjunction with the same and which structure is adapted to hold water in direct heat absorbing engagement with the riser pipe whereby rapid evaporization of water for humidication of said space results.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier of this kind which occupies but a small aniount of space in an outoftheway position with respect to the associated radiator and which may conveniently be lled with water when necessary.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a humidifier of this kind providing a relatively large heating surface area in a small amount of space and which includes no moving parts to get out of order so that the humidifier will have a long life of trouble-free usefulness.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide a humidifier for this purpose which comprises but a relatively few strong 'and rugged parts, requiring but a minimum amount of machining other than threading and which parts may be readily assembled and easily installed either in old or new heating systems.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as Well 4as others, together with the several advantages thereof will mbre fully appear as the specification` proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a space heating radiator with my improved humidiiier in operative position with respect thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, with respect to Fig. 1, through the improved humidifier when disassociated from the radiator, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View through a part of the improved humidier as taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing, the improved humidiiier includes a length of pipe 5 adapted to be substituted for the riser pipe ordinarily employed in connection with a space heating radiator such with the outer surface of the pipe 5.

of the reservoir.

as appears at in Fig. 1. The length of pipe 5 is preferably made of a good heat conducting metal such as brass and is threaded externally at its top and bottom ends as at l and 8 respectively, as best appears in Fig. 2.

Concentric with and surroundng a part of the pipe between its ends and extending the major portion of the length thereof is a tubular body member 9. The bottom end of said tubular body member is externally formed for a watertight threaded engagement in the annular flange I0 of va bottom end closure Il. The closure I l includes a bottom wall l2 having an internally threaded flange E3 for ascrew threaded engagement upon the threaded end 8 of the pipe 5. When the tubular body member 9 and the closure l2 are in place upon the pipe there is formed an annular, open top space or reservoir I4 for holding a quantity of evaporating agent such as water, in direct heat absorbing engagement The water referred to is indicated at l5 in Fig. 2.

The open top end of the reservoir has a closure member I6 associated therewith formed so that it may be slid upon the pipe 5 away from the top end of the body to expose the top end The reservoir may then be readily filled with water. At the same time said closure member is so constructed as to permit the escape of vapor from said reservoir to atmosphere. In the present instance said closure member is shown as a disk-like body l'l of a diameter approximating that of the body 9, and having a collar i8 which surrounds the pipe 5 with a sliding t. In the disk-like body are vapor escapem'ent openings i9. Preferably the disk-like body of the closure member I6 is formed with a bottom end diameter to iit snugly in the top end of the tubular body so as to center said end of the body with respect to the pipe when said member is in closing engagement with said end of the body. The top end of the 'collar is formed with a radial iiange 2S whereby it may be readily grasped for sliding the same way 'from the body to permit filling the reservoir.

The radiator E is of the conventional kind and with which is associateda supply pipe 2l for a heating medium such as steam. In the present instance the inlet for steam is provided by a hitting 22 at the top end of the endmost section of the radiator. In this instance the tting 22 is shown as a valve and the supply pipe is shown as located near the floor 23 upon which the radiator stands. Ordinarily a vertical length of pipe (not shown) called a riser pipe is connected at its bottom end by an elbow fitting 24 with said supply pipe. V

The pipe 5 of the improved humidiiier is initially made of a length whereby it may be substituted for and fitted in the place of the said riser" pipe. This substitution may be made by threading the top end 'I of the pipe 5 into the ii'tting 22 and threading the bottom end 8 of said pipe into the fitting 24.

When the improved humidifier is in position between the radiator 6 and its supply pipe 2|, the heating medium, which may be steam, must pass through the pipe 5. As this pipe is made of a good heat conducting material, it absorbs heat units from said medium and these heat units are transferred by conduction to the water in the reservoir. It is pointed out that as the water is in direct engagement with that part of the pipe within the reservoir, the water is quickly heated to and maintained at evaporating temperature. The vapor produced by the reservoir rises and passes out through the openings l 9 into the room space being heated. f

When the supply of water in the reservoir becomes low and requires replenishing, the closure member I6 is slid upwardly on the pipe 5 toward the tting 22. This exposes the open top end of the tubular body 9 for a convenient lling of the same. By releasing the member I, it slides down the pipe into closure position upon the top end of the body 9.

The device embodies no parts which move during the operation of the humidier. It is simple in construction and has a long period of usefulness without requiring attention. The device takes the place of the ordinary riser pipe and therefore may be applied to heating systems already in use or may be installed at the time of assembling a new system. The improved device functions automatically and efficiently for its f intended purpose and requires no attention except to keep the Same supplied with water.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a space heating radiator, a pipe for supplying heating medium to the radiator butY spaced therefrom, a vertically disposed pipe arrangedin said space and having one end connected for communication with the pipe for supplying the heating medium and the other end connected for communication with the radiator, a tubular wall entirely surrounding a part of said vertically disposed pipe and having at its bottom a closure joining it to the vertically disposed pipe thereby providing a reservoir for water having direct heat absorbing engagement with said pipe and an open top for the escape of vapor from said reservoir to the space being heated by said radiator.

2. In combination with a space heating radiator having a fitting at one end thereof for the inlet of a heating medium into said radiator, a pipe leading from a source ofl supply of said medium, a riser' pipe adjacent said end of the radiator and connected at one end to said fitting and connected at its other end to said first mentioned pipe, an open top tubular member entirely surrounding a part of said riser pipe and fixed water-tight at its bottom end in supporting engagement upon said riser pipe and providing a surrounding reservoir for water having a direct heat absorbing engagement with said pipe, and a member associated with the open top end of said tubular member and surrounding said pipe and being formed for the escape of vapor from said reservoir to atmosphere.

3. In combination with a space heating radiator having a fitting at one end thereof for the inlet of a heating medium into said radiator, a pipe leading from a source of supply of said medium, a riser pipe adjacent said end of the radiator and connected at one end to said fitting and connected at its other end to said first mentioned pipe, an open top tubular member entirely surrounding a part of said riser pipe and xed watertight at Vits bottom end in supporting engagement upon said riser pipe and providing a surrounding reservoir for water having a direct heat absorbing engagement with said pipe, and a member associated with the open top end of said tubular member and surrounding said pipe for a sliding guided movement thereon away from and toward said tubular member, said closure member being formed for the escape of vapor from said reservoir to atmosphere.

4. In combination with a space heating radiator having a fitting at one Vend thereof for the inlet of a heating medium into said radiator, a pipe leading from a source of supply of said medium, a riser pipe adjacent said end of the radiator and having a screw threaded connection atA one end with said fitting and having a screw threaded connection at its other end with said iirst mentioned pipe, an open top tubular member surrounding a part of said riser pipe and having a screw threaded water-tight supporting connection at its bottom end upon said riser pipe soas to provide a surrounding reservoir for water having a direct heat absorbing engagement with said riser pipe, and a member associated with the open top of said tubular member and surrounding said riser pipe and being formed for the escape of vapor from, said reservoir to atmosphere.

5. In combination with a space heating radia-V tor having a ttingat one end thereof for the inlet of a heating medium into said radiator, a pipe leading from a source of supply of said medium, a riser pipe adjacent said end of the radiator and connected at one end to said fitting and connected at its other end to said iirst mentioned pipe, an open top tubular member surrounding a part of said riser pipe and xed watertight at its bottom end in supporting engagement upon said riser pipe and providing a surrounding reservoir for water having a direct heat absorbing engagement with said pipe, and a closure member for the open top end of said tubular member, said closure including a part surrounding said pipe and having openings therein communicating the annular space between said tubular member and said pipe.

CLYDE MAXWELL. 

